Vivian Lawson’s fantasy of being the perfect 1950s suburban housewife is shattered when an uncontrollable event changes her life forever.

Destitute and left to fend for herself in a man’s world, she searches her New England town unable to find a job. With nowhere to turn, Vivian takes the advice of her wisecracking best friend, Babs, and reluctantly becomes a Tupperware lady.

Vivian struggles with low self-esteem as well as stage fright but with the support of Babs’ lovesick brother, Stew, and the creator of Tupperware’s Home Party Plan system, Brownie Wise, she may just find the strength to conquer her inner demons and take control of her life.

Set in 1950′s suburban America, Leftovers tells the story of Vivian Lawson and the ups and downs of her life. This is the first novel I’ve seen described as a ‘romantic dramedy’ but the description fits perfectly and Leftovers ticked all the right boxes for me by combining elements from my favourite genres to create a memorable story that really stands out.

Initially, Leftovers is a sad tale as we meet the downtrodden Vivian who is trying her best to be a domestic goddess but failing at every turn. Aside from her domestic failings Vivian is desperately trying to please a husband who is less than interested, longing for a child and has a fraught relationship with her own mother. As the story progresses a dramatic turn of events sees Vivian hit rock bottom. It’s at this point that the story really took off for me. I love a good transformation tale and Vivian’s is one of the most entertaining and enchanting that I’ve read. To say that Vivian becomes a Tupperware lady is an understatement as she meets Tupperware goddess Brownie Wise and starts to turn her life around.

I loved the historical detail that Arthur packed into the novel. Wooten is a very visual writer and I could easily see a film or TV series based in Vivian’s 1950′s world. The Tupperware events in particular had me fascinated and I was surprised to find that Brownie Wise and her annual ‘Jubilee’ were actually historical fact. Although Leftovers  is a fairly lighthearted quick read it’s also a nice commentary on the roles and chances that were opening up to women at the time and the changes that have come about in society in the last 60 years.

The characters are well drawn and I loved the contrast between mousy Vivian and her outgoing friend Babs. As well as helping her friend out of an awful situation, it is Babs that brings a lot of the comedy element to the novel. Leftovers also has a quirky romantic side as Vivian flatly refuses to see what’s right in front of her own eyes (both the good and bad) for much of the novel. I thought the ending to the story was really sweet and although not preachy, this is a novel that puts a high value on friendship.

Leftovers is the second of Arthur’s novels that I’ve read and he’s fast becoming one of my favourite indie authors. With wonderful characters and a thoroughly entertaining story, I highly recommend having some Leftovers as soon as possible!

5/5

Leftovers is officially launched today and I’d like to thank Arthur for sending me a copy to review.

You can find out more about Arthur and his writing on his website at: http://www.arthurwooten.com

Take one aspiring cook, one judge, and a spoonful of romance…

When Zoe Harper wins a coveted place in a televised cookery competition she’s thrilled. It’s a chance to cook her way to fame and fortune and the little delicatessen she’s set her heart on.

The first task has hardly begun when she finds herself with rather too much on her plate. Not only has she got to contend with the fiercely competitive and downright devious Cher, but she’s fast developing an inconvenient crush on one of the judges – the truly delicious Gideon Irving.

All too soon there’s more than canapés, cupcakes and cordon bleu at stake. Will Zoe win the competition or is Gideon one temptation too far? And is Zoe really prepared to risk it all for love?

I read my first Katie Fforde book last year and loved Katie’s warm and easy writing style, likeable characters and the lovely summery romance of the story. I’m pleased to say Katie has done it again in Recipe for Love which is a must read for lovers of TV cookery programmes like The Great British Bake Off and Masterchef as it is set during a cookery competition.

The cooking challenges Zoe and her fellow competitors face make an excellent backdrop for the novel giving the plot plenty of variety and pace. I felt like I was being given a behind the scenes look at the contest and its contestants as I read about Zoe and her progress through the competition. Of course , this wouldn’t be a Katie Fforde novel with out the romantic element and this book has it in spades as Zoe finds herself attracted to Gideon Irving, one of the competition judges.

The chemistry between Zoe and Gideon is apparent immediately and there is a wonderful ‘will they/won’t they?’ tension to the book which is compounded by the fact that Zoe could jeopardize her place in the competition by being anything other than strictly professional with Gideon. I loved that Katie kept me guessing right to the end as to how their flirtation would turn out and as the story took some twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting, I didn’t want to put the book down!

I liked Zoe very much and although she has a tendency to be helpful to the point of putting her own chances in the competition at risk, she came across as a genuinely likeable and nice person. I found myself rooting for her not just to do well in the competition but also for all the other aspects of her life and her dream of owning a deli to work out too.

The supporting cast are well written and bring a lot of humour to the novel; Zoe’s fellow competitor Cher acts as a wonderfully underhand spanner in the works throughout the story and I loved the sub plot involving Rupert and Fenella, the owners of Somersby House where the main part of the competition is being held; Rupert’s parents in particular are brilliant and scarily believable over the top characters.

Recipe for Love has a wonderful summery feel to it and is the perfect novel to curl up with as the days (hopefully) get warmer and summer approaches. A delicious read and tasty romance – top marks from me!

5/5

Recipe for Love is out in hardback now and I’d like to thank Amelia at Random House for sending me a review copy.

You can read an extract of Recipe for Love and find out more about Katie and her books on her website at: http://www.katiefforde.com/

Allegra North’s second thoughts about splitting with childhood sweetheart Francis need a first-class stamp. But with her unfinished letter to him still in her handbag, she can’t find the right words to express her regrets. Invited to a big movie premiere through her work, she resolves to put all thoughts of her ex fiancé out of her mind; then she loses her handbag in the foyer. Francis meanwhile is determined to win Allegra back. Convinced that they should never have parted, he intends to declare his feelings in front of crowds of press and film fans that evening, unaware that his meticulous plans are about to be hijacked by his hired accomplice, a movie stuntman with a thirst for publicity . . . By the time the closing credits roll, the crowds will be baying for a kiss. Can a letter right wrongs, or do actions speak louder than words?

Fiona Walker’s new novel The Love Letter is out on 3rd May but as a prequel to the release of the new book Fiona has released an exclusive ebook short story today. I was lucky enough to get a preview of Sealed with a Kiss and it’s certainly an attention grabber. I haven’t read any of Fiona’s books before but I will definitely be reading The Love Letter now as I need to know what happens next!

Sealed with a Kiss is set twelve months before The Love Letter and introduces us to Allegra ‘Legs’ North who has recently split up with her first love and childhood sweetheart, Francis. The reason for the split is revealed in the short story and straight away, wasn’t what I was expecting!

Allegra works for a literary agency and is due to attend the movie premier for the most anticipated movie release of the year (think The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter). I enjoyed the London premier setting and the movie star cast add lots of A-list glamour to the story.

Despite this only being a short story, Fiona Walker sets up a number of plot lines straight away and as I was reading I felt like I’d jumped straight into the action. The main thread focuses on Allegra and the love letter that she is writing to Francis but throw in an A List actress with a last minute wardrobe malfunction, a runaway horse and carriage and a priceless emerald necklace and the plot really takes off.

With a large cast of likeable and interesting characters that I hope we’ll see more of in The Love Letter, Sealed with a Kiss is an excellent introduction to the forthcoming book and Fiona Walker’s style. I liked Allegra straight away and her sense of humour made me smile.I’m already looking forward to getting to know her better in the new novel and I’m very intrigued to find out what happens to her love letter next.

I love that more authors are releasing stories like this which give new readers like me the opportunity to sample their writing and get a feel for a story. Sealed with a Kiss is a quick fun read and a good length for a short story, It is released today and is available as an audio edition as well as an ebook. You can find out more, hear an extract of Sealed with a Kiss and read the first chapter of The Love Letter on Fiona’s website at: http://www.fionawalker.com/

I really enjoyed Sue Moorcroft’s last novel, Love and Freedom so I was very excited to see her new cover over on her blog yesterday. Isn’t it lovely? Dream a Little Dream will be published by Choc Lit in November and I can’t wait to read it!

The cover for this book caught my eye when it was mentioned on Twitter recently – isn’t it cute? The Jane Austen Marriage Manual is Kim Izzo’s debut novel and will be published by Hodder & Stoughton on 12th April. It sounds like a fab fun read and as an Austen fan it went straight on my wish list!

It`s a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen knew more about marriage than anyone else. `Never mind that she never got married herself…`

It`s in the midst of the recession when Kate, a freelance journalist and self-professed Jane Austen addict, finds herself single, unemployed and soon-to-be homeless `not to mention about to turn 40`.

In desperation she accepts a writing assignment to prove a theory that in the toughest economic times a wealthy man is the only must-have accessory. So, with just Jane Austen`s advice for company, she sets off to see if Mr Rich can ever become Mr Right.

Her mission takes her to Palm Beach, St Moritz and London. Where, in keeping company with the elite, she meets billionaires, oil tycoons, and generally men who make Mr Darcy look like an amateur. But will rubbing shoulders with men of good fortune ever actually lead her to love?

‘Am I dead? I don’t feel dead…’

Sophie cannot leave the people she loves. Her husband, Ollie – a man who once watered a houseplant for a year before realising it was plastic – is lost without her. Their son Freddie is so little. And her friend Jenny? There’s something she desperately needs to know before it’s too late.

Sophie is only thirty-five when she gets hit by a bus on Regent Street, leaving her husband Ollie, six year old son Freddie,  her best friend Jenny and the rest of her family and friends shocked and grieving. But Sophie hasn’t quite left them yet; she’s still floating around, watching over her nearest and dearest.  The Angel at No. 33 is the story of Sophie and her loved ones in the year following her death. You might be forgiven for thinking this would be a real tear-jerker of a novel and of course, in places it is (Sophie’s little boy Freddie got to me every time) but as well as being incredibly moving The Angel at No. 33 is also funny, insightful and ultimately uplifting.

Sophie tells us much of the story herself with heartfelt, often amusing commentary on her life and death that strikes just the right emotional balance. If I met someone like Sophie in real life I’d probably be quite intimidated (gorgeous, amazing husband, life and soul of every party, clever and funny) but as a ghostly presence, Sophie becomes more reflective about her life and what was actually important and I loved the observations that she came up with as she watched over the people she loves most.

Alternating with Sophie’s thoughts, the rest of the novel is told in the third person and focuses on key characters trying to cope without Sophie. Predominantly Ollie and Jenny but also the Muswell Hill mums; Sophie’s quirky, eclectic and slightly frightening local support network. The Muswell Hill mums cover a multitude of mummy categories with Tash, the hot divorcee, Lydia the emotional one and Suze, the ultimate organiser and as they launch into committee mode in a bid to rescue Ollie from self destruction and domestic neglect this storyline brings a lot of the humor to the book! Jenny is also roped into their plans as the person who knows Sophie, Freddie and Ollie best and the coming together of the different friends in Sophie’s life made me think about my own friends and the ways I mix them or don’t!

Jenny has her own set of problems in the form of fiance Sam who is reluctant to set a wedding date and Sophie’s death also makes her step back and evaluate her life. I liked Jenny a lot, perhaps because she seems to be the most ‘normal’ of the female characters in the book but also because she tries so hard to be there for everyone and genuinely cares without going overboard.

As Ollie and Freddie’s lives become open to scrutiny, Williams addresses issues of bereavement, grieving and moving on, truthfully and I only had one small gripe about one of Ollie’s actions as he tries to come to terms with Sophie’s death. I liked the way Sophie is used as the detached observer to bring wry observations and humor to sensitive issues without belittling them.

Well written with engaging characters, I liked Polly William’s style and found The Angel at No. 33 to be a real page turner. Thanks to a mysterious box of hidden letters and a cryptic ‘to do’ list left by Sophie there is also an element of mystery to the plot. Although the subject matter is sad and very moving, it’s not depressing and  The Angel at No. 33 is a bittersweet, romantic and enjoyable read.

4/5

The Angel at No. 33 is Polly’s sixth novel and is out now. You can find out more about Polly and her books at: http://www.pollywilliams.com/

Does every relationship deserve a second chance?

When chief romantic Rose Delaney scores her dream job at London’s quirkiest new attraction, The Museum of Broken Hearts, she thinks she’s got it made. Sure, it’s a little depressing dealing with relics of failed relationships each day, but Rose is determined not to let it break her ‘love conquers all’ spirit. After discovering the museum’s handsome curator is nursing a broken heart of his own, Rose steps in to fix it. Can Rose heal the rift, or will this happy ending go awry?

Regular readers will know that I’m a big fan of Talli Roland’s novels so whilst I’m waiting eagerly for her next book to be released, I thought I’d read her novella Miracle at the Museum of Broken Hearts. For those who haven’t read any of Talli’s writing yet, this novella is the perfect opportunity to get a feel for her books. The story is full of Talli’s trademark warmth, humour and romance and I thought the idea of a Museum of Broken Hearts was quirky and original.

Rose is a hopeless romantic and very much an optimist and was a girl after my own heart from the beginning. As we meet her she’s working in the basement of the British Museum and thoroughly fed up with her fossil cataloguing job so when she sees the advert for a job at The Museum of Broken Hearts she has to apply! Despite the protestations of her best friend Mel who tells it like it is, Rose heads into the job full of enthusiasm and quickly decides that she needs to help her new (and very handsome) boss mend his own broken heart. Talli has created two lovely characters in Rose and Heath and the story is a clever take on both relationships and love with a couple of fab twists in the tale.

Some short stories are just that – a nice quick read but not much to them but I was impressed by the substance of this one. It’s an excellent read and very much worth the pennies that it cost to download.

*STOP PRESS* Miracle at the Museum of Broken Hearts is FREE to download on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com today so grab it quick!

You can find out more abou Talli and her books at: http://talliroland.blogspot.com/

Last month I wrote a list of the ten ‘chick lit’ books that  I can’t wait to read this year. Lindsey Kelk’s summer release I Heart London was on the list so you can imagine my excitement when I saw that the cover has been released. I’ve loved all of the covers in this series and this one is gorgeous too – I can’t wait to find out what happens to Angela when she’s back on home turf!

Home is where the heart is. Right?

Angela Clark has fallen in love with America – and it’s starting to love her back.

Throw one expired visa into the mix, and things quickly take a turn for the worse.

Now, there’s another wedding in the offing – and everyone remembers how well the last one went . . .

After the break up of a long-term relationship Lisa escapes to the remote Isles of Scilly, twenty eight miles off the coast of Cornwall, for a new year reunion with old college friends. But as winter weather sweeps across Britain the airports close and only two people make it: Lisa and Dominic. She always thought him attractive and he still is, but he doesn’t even seem to remember her.

Kate Allan’s romantic short e-book novella Snowbound on the Island was released last week and is a very appropriate read for the current UK weather!

Lisa finds herself thrown together with handsome Dominic as they await the arrival of the rest of their university friends (who have been stranded in the snow) for a new year celebration on the Isles of Scilly. I thought this story was a fab quick romantic read with a plausible plot and two likeable characters in Lisa and Dominic. Despite this being a short story, Kate Allan really brings out her two characters’ personalities. I loved that Dominic hadn’t really noticed Lisa in the past which created a great tension between them. As the two make the best of the situation sparks begin to fly making Snowbound on the Island a romantic winter warmer!

You can find out more about Kate and her writing on her website at: http://kateallan.com/

Joanne Kavanagh and best friend Suzie pack their bags and swap dreary, depressing Dublin for the cool Californian coast. Both are determined to start a new life in the land of opportunity, leaving behind the recession and their complicated families.

They make a pact at the airport to stick religiously to the ‘LA Commandments’, a list of ten ‘Thou Shalt Nots’ for their new life in LA, including ‘Thou Shall Not Fall in Love,’ but when Jo befriends sexy, shy musician Marc, and Suzie falls for womanizing bar-man Chris, not only are the commandments at risk of being broken, but also the girls’ hearts…

With all California has to offer —sunshine, shopping, killer nightlife, and drop-dead-gorgeous men, will the girls stay faithful to the LA Commandments?

The LA Commandments was a surprising read. Having read the synopsis, I was expecting a lighthearted chick lit novel about two friends jetting off for fun and sun in California; what I found was a gripping story with lighthearted moments but also a much more serious side than I expected. Once I started reading I couldn’t put this book down and the final twist really surprised me.

The story begins on the day that Jo and Suzie leave for LA and is told in the first person from Jo’s point of view. I enjoyed the excitement as the two girls headed off for their new beginning and I thought the idea of the LA Commandments (a set of rules that the girls would follow as they enjoyed their trip) was fun but I was surprised to find that the book mainly just focuses on one of the commandments “Thou shalt not fall in love”. To say that the pair don’t stick to that commandment is a bit of an understatement with Suzie especially having an eye for the men from the off and soon developing a major crush on bar-man Chris. Jo’s romance is more slow burning and both girls encounter their fair share of romantic drama as the story progresses and the ups and downs of their relationships had me hooked!

I thought Jo and Suzie were both interesting characters and the relationship between them as best friends was realistic and well developed. My only minor criticism is that they both came across to me as a bit too fixated on their weight/looks at times despite it being clear that neither of them had anything to worry about! The supporting cast are also interesting and varied and between them raise a number of more serious issues including cancer, depression and alcoholism. Duffy certainly isn’t afraid to tackle some hard hitting issues and their repercussions on loved ones, family and friends and does so in a sensitive and thought provoking way.

The story ambles along quite gently to begin with as the girls get to know their new surroundings, find somewhere to live and try to find jobs but it really picks up pace as Jo and Marc’s relationship develops and this was my favourite part of the book. I thought Marc was a lovely character and his up and coming star status added a fab touch of LA cool to the story. The sunny California setting is vividly described and Duffy certainly knows her locations.

Overall, The LA Commandments is a romantic and bittersweet novel that I really enjoyed.  This is a story of love, friendship and family and the ending in particular is one that I won’t forget. A strong debut from Gillian Duffy and I’m already looking forward to reading her next novel which should be out later in the year.

4/5

I’d like to thank Gillian and her publisher for sending me a copy of this book for review.

You can find out more about Gillian and her writing at: http://theduffydiary.wordpress.com/